An old-fashioned favourite, Sweet Pea Old Spice Painted Lady produces an abundance of charming bi-coloured flowers in soft pink and white. The blooms are highly scented and carried on plants that can grow impressively tall — ideal for arches or obelisks where their perfume can drift on the breeze.
🌸 Flowering: June to August
📏 Height: to 300cm
🌿Annual
SOW: sow in deep pots from October to February and overwinter in a cold frame, or sow in March or April. In mild areas, you can also direct sow in spring. Sow seeds 12–20mm deep. Some gardeners soak seeds overnight before sowing to help with germination — not essential, but worth a try.
GROW: pinch out the tops when seedlings reach about 5cm to encourage stronger side shoots. Harden off spring-sown plants before planting out in May or June. Overwintered plants often flower earlier. Give them something to climb — wigwams, netting or hazel twigs all work well. Sweet peas are generous with blooms if you keep picking, so don’t hold back.
ENJOY:: cut fresh for the house to enjoy their beautiful colour and classic fragrance indoors, or let them climb in the garden where their scent will stop you in your tracks.
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